Huntington Ingalls Industries has cut a 35-ton steel plate at its Newport News Shipbuilding division to kick off advance construction of the Aircraft Carrier USS Enterprise (CVN 80).
The steel plate will become part of the foundation of Enterprise, the ninth U.S. Navy ship to bear the legendary name.
The ship's sponsors, Olympic gold medalists Simone Biles and Katie Ledecky, attended the ceremonial event and said how they are so grateful for those who serve in the country's armed services.
There were local officials, shipbuilders, family memebers, executive officers and representatives of the recently decommissioned Enterprise (CVN 65).
"We are always excited to watch the Olympians, but I had a chance to tell the shipbuilders the Olympians are excited to see what you will do everyday," said Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin.
The Enterprise will be the third Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carrier. The flagship USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78) was built at Newport News Shipbuilding and delivered to the Navy in July. Construction has been underway on the John F. Kennedy (CVN 79) since 2015, with a commissioning expected for 2020.
Each Ford-class ship will operate with a smaller crew than a Nimitz-class carrier and will provide $4 billion in total ownership cost savings for the US Navy.
"We're excited to see the progress and to attend the other ceremonies that they'll have," Biles said.
The Enterprise will be the ninth U.S. Navy ship to bear the name. It's the Navy aircraft carrier since the Kitty Hawk-class USS America to not be named for a person.
"Young kids always say you're a hero or they look to a sports figure as heroes, but I always say you know the people that serve our country? They're the real heroes," said Ledecky.
Newport News is performing the work under an advance fabrication contract the shipyard was awarded earlier this year. Award of the CVN 80 detail design and construction contract is anticipated in 2018. Construction is currently underway on the second ship of the class, John F. Kennedy (CVN 79), with more than 50 percent of the structural units already erected.
The former USS Enterprise (CVN 65) was also built at Newport News Shipbuilding and the world's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. The ship was last homeported in Norfolk before being deactivated in December 2012. She was officially decommissioned in January 2017.
Some of the steel from the USS Enterprise is being recycled to be used in the construction of the new Enterprise.
The ship is scheduled to go into the fleet in nine years.
Enterprise (CVN 80) First Cut of Steel Ceremony